Let's Try Guineas

After losing our geese, we went back to Atwoods to buy replacements.  Unfortunately, they were out.  So instead, we decided to try our luck with guineas.  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of them when they first arrived!  We moved them to the outdoor barn around the first of May.  Here are pictures of them at around 3 weeks old.

A Sad Day

As Clay was leaving for work, he noticed a lifeless goose carcass beside the barn.  Upon further investigation, it was discovered that everything that slept in the barn that night had been massacred: all 3 geese and 3 Americauna chickens.  We were devastated!  I felt an unusual animosity towards the perpetrator--we're still unsure exactly who it was.  I understand the need to survive is what usually drives a predator to take one bird for an easy meal.  I don't like it, but I understand it.  However, whatever this was went beyond catching a good meal.  It didn't stop killing until it had killed every single thing leaving several uneaten carcasses behind, almost as if it had simply killed for sport.  That is deeply disturbing.

We did have 5 hens and our rooster locked in a different coop and they were unharmed.  So, we're down to only 6 poultry, our lowest number ever.

Teaching the Goslings to Swim

Follow mama!

That's right.  Come along little ones.

Now you've got the hang of it.

Hey guys, that was fun.  Let's do it again.

What Is Pink by Christina Rossetti



What is pink?  A rose is pink,
By the fountain's brink.

What is red?  A poppy's red,

In its barley bed.







What is blue?  The sky is blue,
Where the clouds float through.





What is white?  A swan is white,
Sailing in the light.









What is yellow?  Pears are yellow,
Rich and ripe and mellow.



What is green?  The grass is green,
With small flower between.





What is violet?  Clouds are violet,
In the summer twilight.

What is orange?  Why, an orange,
Just an orange!

When the Frost Is On the Punkin/ James Whitcomb Riley

We studied two poets this term: Eugene Field and James Whicomb Riley.  We spent most of the term on Eugene Field poetry and the selection that Claire chose to memorize was very long.  Therefore, we only spent three weeks on James Whitcomb Riley.  With such limited time, we decided to only memorize the first stanza of this poem.  The coloquial pronunciation makes this poet much more difficult to recite than other poets--almost like memorizing in a foreign language.  We had fun with it, though.

We actually grew these "punkins."
What great jack-o-lanterns they made!

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,

And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,

And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes to the fence;
O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bare-headed, and goes to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

Goslings

We were going to order some white embdens from Meyer Hatchery, but Atwoods had these for $8 each so we couldn't resist.  The sales associate did not know the breed, but I'm guessing these are white embdens.  The children, especially Claire who picked them out, are just bursting with love for these newest additions to our family.

They are set up in our downstairs bathroom for now.  We'll start putting them in the barn on warm days in a few weeks.

Constantly eating and drinking.

Night, night!

I'm amazed at how much they eat and drink.  They are certain to grow very quickly.

Museum of Natural History

No you overgrown mammoth!  I won't
 let you crush him.

Finally, we made the trip we had been planning for Cody's birthday surprise to the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History on the OU campus in Norman.  We were all overwhelmed by all there was to see.  I'm interested to see whether the trip quenches his thirst for dino knowledge, or merely whets his appetite for more.

Wow, wook at that!

Posing in front of the biggest
land animal skull ever found.

I knew before arriving that Clay and I would not be able to read the information on the exhibits, or look for as long as we wanted.  We're okay with that.  I actually can remember what it is like to be 5 years old in a place like that.  It is torture to have to sit and wait for someone to read something when there are so many more interesting things to see!

Learning the rules of the dig.

Several years ago when I first began seriously learning about home schooling, I ran across numerous opinions that warned against going to museums like this one due to the ungodly influence that the theory of evolution, fully presented, would have on children.  I'll admit that I actually bought into this belief for a short time, but no more.  I've reconciled my own beliefs and found there to be no contradiction between evolutionary theory and my own faith in Christ Jesus.  Luckily, I'm not alone.  Numerous authors offer comfort and support for evolutionist Christians.

mini archaeologist

I love dinos!

However, since we are certain to encounter and interact with other Christians who are staunchly opposed to particulars in the theory of evolution, my plan for now is to present both to the children-- To explain not only WHAT many Christians believe regarding our earliest origins, but WHY they believe this including the perceived threats such teachings have.  There are indeed some slippery slopes in this field.